Nasimans ordered off highways

Star Online Report

Source: STAR file

The High Court today ordered the government to withdraw locally-made three wheelers -- nasiman, karimon and votvoti -- from highways in 10 districts within a week to reduce road accidents. The districts are: Jessore, Khulna, Jhenidah, Magura, Meherpur, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Narail, Kushtia and Chuadanga. In response to a writ petition, the court also issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks why it should not be directed to stop plying of the vehicles on the highways across the country. In the rule, it also asked the authorities concerned to explain why they should not be ordered to follow the provisions of Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1983 in respect of allowing the vehicles to ply the highways. The home secretary, finance secretary, inspector general of police (IGP), deputy IGP (highways), joint commissioner (traffic), chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, and superintendents of police of the 10 districts have been made respondents to the rule. The HC also asked them to submit a report after complying with the order to it in two weeks, Deputy Attorney General Mokhlesur Rahman told The Daily Star. The HC bench of Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice Md Habibul Gani came up with the order and rule after hearing the writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) on February 9 seeking necessary orders to stop plying of nasiman, karimon and votvoti in the highways to reduce road accidents.

During hearing, petitioner’s counsel Manzill Murshid told the court that hundreds of people lost their lives and properties worth crores of taka were damaged everyday in road accidents which take place due to the unfit and illegal vehicles on the highways across the country.